All morning, she sold three hair ties and two small keychains. A few people asked about the two dresses, but once they heard the price and looked at the style, they hesitated and shook their heads. Most of the shoppers at this hour were married women in their thirties.
One older sister even clicked her tongue. “Heavens, if I wore something this flashy, my husband would beat me to death. No way I’m wearing that!”
Su Jinle’s little face flushed red. She stammered in explanation, “It’s n-not flashy.”
It was just a blue-and-white plaid set — only slightly bolder in design than the usual conservative dresses. How was that flashy?
The egg-selling auntie beside her rolled her eyes dramatically. “Big sis, don’t worry about it. With that waist of yours, you couldn’t fit into it anyway!”
The woman: “…”
She had wanted to argue back, but judging by the auntie’s sharp tongue and her own years of fighting experience, she quickly concluded she’d lose. So she sniffed and left.
Su Jinle lowered her head, utterly discouraged. “I-it probably won’t sell…”
She loved designing clothes too much. She had been too confident. She shouldn’t have made something so bold. She should’ve stuck to the simpler style — at least that would sell cheaper. The fabric alone had cost ten yuan. It hurt.
The auntie saw her crestfallen look and immediately comforted her. “It’s fine! Worst case, you keep it and wear it yourself. You’d look great in it.”
Su Jinle shook her head. “I have clothes.”
The auntie narrowed her eyes and sized her up — that small face, that slender figure. She smacked Su Jinle’s shoulder so hard the girl nearly toppled over.
“Girl, listen to me. Wear one this afternoon. The other will sell immediately! Clothes need a hanger. Even department stores use mannequins!”
“Me… wear it?” Su Jinle glanced at the oversized bow and hesitated. She designed boldly, but personally wore the plainest styles.
The auntie’s face turned solemn. “I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice. Listen to me!”
Forty yuan for two dresses. Right now, Su Jinle only wanted to earn money for her brother’s leg.
She pressed her lips together. “Then… I’ll try.”
At noon, she returned home.
After a simple meal, Su Yian asked, “Going again this afternoon?”
“Mm. Yes.”
He glanced at the blazing sun outside. “Wait until it cools down a bit. Bring more water. It’s fine if the dresses don’t sell. I still have two hundred yuan in allowances — that can last us a long time.”
Two hundred yuan could feed the whole family for over half a year.
She didn’t mention that she hadn’t sold a single dress all morning. Smiling sweetly, she said, “It’s fine. I get to chat with people there.”
“Oh?” He grew interested. “You made a friend?”
After she developed her stutter, she rarely spoke to outsiders. She had no friends — timid, withdrawn, overly protected by their parents. But ever since refusing the Gu family’s proposal, he felt she’d grown. Still shy, but willing to try new things.
She nodded hard. “Th-the egg auntie. She’s very nice.”
An auntie.
Su Yian laughed softly. An intergenerational friendship, huh?
Around four in the afternoon, Su Jinle left again. Before going, she checked herself several times in the wardrobe mirror.
The girl inside wore a blue-and-white plaid set. Dark hair, fair skin, slim waist. Her hair was tied up with a matching plaid ribbon. When she turned slightly, the large bow accentuated a soft femininity. She paired it with white ankle socks and black cloth shoes, revealing a slender strip of pale calf.
Like an anime character she’d once seen on TV.
She rubbed her burning cheeks and hyped herself up.
Money first. Everything else doesn’t matter.
The moment she appeared, vendors along the street turned to look. A few men outright stared.
The egg auntie reacted instantly, jumping up with hands on hips. “What are you staring at? Never seen a pretty girl? The Public Security Bureau is right across the street! Hooliganism is a capital crime — one bullet per head!”
Everyone: “…”
The egg auntie was a legend on this street. Her mouth could curse heaven and earth alike. Once she’d fought over stall space and argued for an entire day straight. Even the police chief couldn’t outtalk her.
No one dared mess with her. And hooliganism was serious business.
At once, the men stopped staring — some even shifted their stalls farther away.
Su Jinle had been mortified under those gazes. Now she exhaled in relief and whispered, “Th-thank you. I’ll buy eggs later.”
The auntie rolled her eyes. “Don’t you dare. My chickens don’t lay enough eggs for how much you buy.”
Her family was actually well-off. With her children grown, she sold eggs mostly to pass the time, not out of necessity.
Su Jinle thought for a moment and handed her a small cloth pouch — blue-and-white plaid, edged with ruffled scrap fabric.
“Th-this is for you. To hold money.”
The auntie stared. “Girl. I’m fifty.”
Su Jinle smiled shyly, long lashes lowered. She looked a bit silly — but unbearably sincere.
The auntie’s heart melted.
Fine, fine. In all her life, she’d never seen such a soft little thing. Her own daughter was more like a hawk spreading wings at home.
Su Jinle sat on a small stool while the auntie periodically shouted, “Fresh eggs! Who wants eggs! Pretty dresses! Who wants pretty dresses!”
After five, nearby factories let out. Female workers passed by, browsing as they walked home. Su Jinle, in her plaid outfit, became a bright splash of color on the street.
Not everyone carried twenty yuan, though. Upon hearing the price, many retreated.
“It’s pretty, but the style’s strange. Department store dresses are only eighteen yuan. This is too expensive.”
Too anxious to sell, Su Jinle forgot her embarrassment and stood up.
“It’s n-not strange.”
She spun in place. The bow traced a graceful arc in the air. Her long hair lifted and fell.
Around her, soft gasps rose one after another.
Like someone stepping out of a painting.
So beautiful.